Massage Therapist in a Hospice

A hospice is a place that terminally ill patients go to have their physical, spiritual and social needs taken care of.  It is a place in which people who have conditions ranging from Alzheimer's disease to congestive heart failure to cancer go to spend their final time.

During their time in a hospice, patients greatly benefit from massage therapy.  Massage therapists will focus on geriatric massage techniques focused on the reduction of pain for their patients.  It is also very important for the  massage therapist to teach techniques of touch to the family of the hospice patient.  Family members who learn a few massage-inspired, light-touch techniques can offer their loved ones some relief and are less fearful of touching their ailing family member.  There are many benefits of massage for hospice patients.  Massage has been shown to reduce the stress and anxiety in these patients and reduce their need to medicate for those reasons.  Massage can raise blood pressure in coma patients and even penetrate the non-verbal state of Alzheimer's patients.

If you are interested in a career where you can help others make their final moments more comfortable, working as a massage therapist in a hospice is for you.  If you are interested in becoming a massage therapist, please contact Space Coast Health Institute at 321-308-8000 to inquire about their program.